Operation device comprising touch panel to input controls for autonomous driving vehicle

ABSTRACT

A display control unit displays a background of a touch panel in a first color and does not display a button for starting autonomous driving on the touch panel when an autonomous driving vehicle is not permitted to travel in autonomous driving from a management center and displays the background of the touch panel in a second color different from the first color and displays an autonomous driving start button for starting the autonomous driving on the touch panel when the autonomous driving vehicle is permitted to travel in autonomous driving from the management center.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/910,515 filed Jun. 24, 2020, which claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-121407 filed on Jun. 28, 2019, the entire contents of both application are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This specification discloses an operation device for an autonomous driving vehicle.

BACKGROUND

It is conventionally known that an autonomous driving vehicle can drive autonomously. Autonomous driving means that drive control including vehicle speed control and steering control is performed at least partly by a computer.

An autonomous driving vehicle is conventionally known to perform autonomous driving according to instructions from a management center that performs remote control of autonomous driving vehicles. For example, JP 2017-182137 A and JP 2017-102664 A disclose an autonomous driving system including a management center, that manages plural autonomous driving vehicles and transmits a traveling route and a drive instruction to the autonomous driving vehicles, and the autonomous driving vehicles which perform autonomous driving according to the traveling route and the drive instructions transmitted from the management center.

Incidentally, it is considered that the autonomous driving vehicle capable of performing autonomous driving starts traveling from a stationary state not according to an instruction from the management center but according to a travel start instruction inputted by an on-board operator. In addition, traveling is not always started even if the operator inputs the travel start instruction. It is considered that control to start traveling of the autonomous driving vehicle can be conducted when the operator inputs the travel start instruction on condition that traveling in autonomous driving is permitted from the management center.

In the above case, it is desirable that the operator can grasp that traveling in autonomous driving can be started so that the operator can input an instruction to the autonomous driving vehicle to start traveling in autonomous driving at an appropriate time.

The operation device for the autonomous driving vehicle disclosed in this specification enables the operator to recognize that traveling in autonomous driving can be started by the autonomous driving vehicle which starts to travel in autonomous driving according to the travel start instruction inputted by the on-board operator on condition that traveling in autonomous driving is permitted from the management center.

SUMMARY

An operation device for an autonomous driving vehicle disclosed in the present specification is an operation device for an autonomous driving vehicle that is communicable with a management center provided outside the vehicle and starts traveling in autonomous driving according to a travel start instruction inputted by an on-board operator on condition that traveling in autonomous driving is permitted from the management center, the operation device comprising an input portion for inputting an autonomous-driving travel start instruction; and a variable sign which indicates a first form when the management center does not permit the autonomous driving vehicle to travel in autonomous driving and indicates a second form different from the first form when the management center permits the autonomous driving vehicle to travel in autonomous driving.

According to the above configuration, the operator can recognize by visually recognizing the variable sign whether or not traveling in autonomous driving of the autonomous driving vehicle is permitted from the management center, namely whether or not traveling in autonomous driving can be started.

The variable sign is a display portion, and a display control unit is further provided to display as the first form a first color on the display portion and to display as the second form a second color, which is different from the first color, on the display portion instead of the first color.

The display portion is a touch panel for displaying a background and buttons, and the display control unit displays as the first form the background or the buttons in the first color and displays as the second form the background or the buttons in the second color.

The input portion and the variable sign are a touch panel capable of displaying an autonomous driving start button for inputting an autonomous-driving travel start instruction to the autonomous driving vehicle, and a display control unit is further provided to display as the first form a screen not displaying the autonomous driving start button on the touch panel and as the second form a screen displaying the autonomous driving start button on the touch panel.

The variable sign may indicate a third form different from the first form and the second form when the autonomous driving vehicle is traveling in autonomous driving.

The variable sign is switchable from the first form to the second form by a mechanical mechanism.

According to an operation device for an autonomous driving vehicle disclosed in the present specification, an operator can recognize that traveling in autonomous driving can be started by the autonomous driving vehicle which starts traveling in autonomous driving according to the travel start instruction inputted by an on-board operator on condition that traveling in autonomous driving is permitted from the management center.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Embodiment(s) of the present disclosure will be described based on the following figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an appearance view of an autonomous driving vehicle according to the present embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the autonomous driving vehicle according to the present embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a first example of a touch panel screen when a management center does not permit traveling in autonomous driving;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the touch panel screen when the management center permits travelling in autonomous driving;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a second example of the touch panel screen when the management center does not permit traveling in autonomous driving;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the touch panel screen when traveling in autonomous driving; and

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing a flow of processing by an autonomous driving system according to the present embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is an appearance view of an autonomous driving vehicle 10 according to the present embodiment. In respective figures of the present specification, terms front (FR) and rear denote the front and rear in the vehicle's longitudinal direction, terms left (LH) and right denote the left and right of the vehicle when facing forward, and terms up (UP) and down denote up and down in the vehicle's vertical direction.

The autonomous driving vehicle 10 is approximately parallelepiped with a longitudinally symmetrical shape, and its appearance design is also longitudinally symmetrical. In a plan view, a pillar 12 is extended vertically at four corners of the autonomous driving vehicle 10, and a wheel 14 is provided below each pillar 12. Front, rear, right and left sidewalls of the autonomous driving vehicle 10 are partly formed to have a transparent or translucent panel 16. The panel 16 may be a display panel to display characters or the like on it.

The panel 16 which is a part of the left side wall constitutes a slidable door 18, and an occupant opens the slide-open door 18 to get in/out of the vehicle. In FIG. 1 , a retractable ramp (not shown) is housed below the door 18. The ramp is used for a wheelchair or the like to get in and out of the vehicle.

The autonomous driving vehicle 10 is an omnibus vehicle in which an unspecified number of passengers can ride together. The autonomous driving vehicle 10 of the present embodiment is used as a bus which travels on a specified route to transport passengers in a prescribed site. Therefore, the autonomous driving vehicle 10 is assumed to repeat start and stop relatively frequently. Also, the autonomous driving vehicle 10 is assumed to travel at a relatively slow speed (e.g., 30 km/h or below).

However, a usage type of the autonomous driving vehicle 10 disclosed in this specification can be changed appropriately. For example, the autonomous driving vehicle 10 may be used as a movable business space or as a store such as a retail store for displaying and selling various types of articles, a restaurant for cooking and serving foods and drinks or other shops. Also, as another type, the autonomous driving vehicle 10 may be used as an office for office works or for meeting with a customer. Also, the use of the autonomous driving vehicle 10 is not limited to business scenes. For example, the autonomous driving vehicle 10 may be used as a movable means used in private. Also, a traveling pattern and a traveling speed of the autonomous driving vehicle 10 can be changed appropriately.

The autonomous driving vehicle 10 is an electric vehicle having a drive motor as a power motor which receives power supply from a battery. This battery is a chargeable/dischargeable secondary battery and periodically recharged with external electric power. The autonomous driving vehicle 10 is not limited to the electric vehicle but may be another type of vehicle. For example, the autonomous driving vehicle 10 may be an engine automobile fitted with an engine as the power motor, or may be a hybrid vehicle fitted with an engine and a drive motor as the power motor. Also, the autonomous driving vehicle 10 may be a hydrogen automobile which drives a drive motor by electric power generated by a fuel cell.

The autonomous driving vehicle 10 is also a vehicle capable of driving autonomously. Specifically, the autonomous driving vehicle 10 can be driven in plural drive modes such as an autonomous drive mode, a semi-autonomous drive mode, and a manual drive mode.

The autonomous drive mode is a drive mode in which most of drive control is performed by a computer mounted on the autonomous driving vehicle 10. In the present specification, the drive control is a concept including the shift change control, vehicle speed control, and steering control. Also, the vehicle speed control is a concept including the start control, stop control, and acceleration/deceleration control of the autonomous driving vehicle 10. The autonomous driving vehicle 10 is communicable with a management center that manages and remote-controls plural autonomous driving vehicles 10. The autonomous driving vehicle 10 in the autonomous drive mode performs autonomous driving according to an instruction from the management center. Details will be described later but even in the autonomous drive mode, traveling from a stopped state is started according to the travel start instruction inputted by the operator on-board the autonomous driving vehicle 10 on condition that traveling in autonomous driving is permitted from the management center.

The semi-autonomous drive mode is a drive mode in which most of the drive control of the autonomous driving vehicle 10 is performed by the computer mounted on the autonomous driving vehicle 10, similar to the autonomous drive mode. In the semi-autonomous drive mode, the computer performs the drive control based on the results detected by various sensors (such as a camera or LIDAR) provided on the autonomous driving vehicle 10 without depending on any instruction from the management center. In the semi-autonomous drive mode, traveling from a stopped state is similarly started according to the travel start instruction inputted by the operator on-board the autonomous driving vehicle 10 on condition that traveling in autonomous driving is permitted from the management center.

The manual drive mode is a mode in which the autonomous driving vehicle 10 does not perform autonomous driving but the operator on-board the autonomous driving vehicle 10 conducts the drive control of the autonomous driving vehicle 10.

As described above, the autonomous driving vehicle 10 travels on a specified route in a prescribed site. Specifically, the management center transmits an instruction to each autonomous driving vehicle 10 to make the plural autonomous driving vehicles 10 travel as buses on the specified route, such that a distance between the respective autonomous driving vehicles 10 traveling on the specified route becomes almost uniform, or a distance between the autonomous driving vehicles 10 does not become less than a prescribed distance. The plural autonomous driving vehicles 10 travel basically in the autonomous drive mode when traveling on the specified route. The semi-autonomous drive mode and the manual drive mode are used when the autonomous driving vehicle 10 moves from a waiting place into the specified route and when it deviates from the specified route to move to the waiting place.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the autonomous driving vehicle 10. The autonomous driving vehicle 10 is configured to include a touch panel 20, a communication unit 22, a drive mode selection unit 24, a drive control unit 26, and a display control unit 28. The drive mode selection unit 24, the drive control unit 26, and the display control unit 28 are realized by the cooperation of hardware such as a processor and software for operating the hardware.

The touch panel 20 is provided in a cabin of the autonomous driving vehicle 10. The touch panel 20 may be provided near the operator seat such that the operator on-board the autonomous driving vehicle 10 can operate appropriately.

The touch panel 20 displays various buttons, and the operator can input control instructions to the autonomous driving vehicle 10 using the buttons displayed on the touch panel 20. Specifically, a drive mode switching instruction and a drive control instruction of the autonomous driving vehicle 10 can be inputted through the touch panel 20. In the present embodiment, among the drive control instructions, a vehicle speed control instruction can be inputted through the touch panel 20. Specially, the touch panel 20 can input a travel start instruction to start traveling of the autonomous driving vehicle 10 from the stopped state and a deceleration instruction to decelerate the traveling autonomous driving vehicle 10. Thus, the touch panel 20 functions as an input portion for inputting the travel start instruction or the deceleration instruction to the autonomous driving vehicle 10. Of course, drive control instructions other than the travel start instruction and the deceleration instruction may be inputted through the touch panel 20. According to the present embodiment, in addition to the drive control instructions, the touch panel 20 can also input device control instructions to devices (such as a blinker, a horn, a headlight, an air conditioner, and a wiper) provided on the autonomous driving vehicle 10. Display contents on the touch panel 20 will be described later in detail.

Also, the autonomous driving vehicle 10 may be provided with a mechanical operation unit (not shown) for inputting a drive control instruction as an operation unit to be operated by the operator in addition to the touch panel 20. The mechanical operation unit may be, for example, a stick-like operation part which can be tilted in the front, back, right and left directions with the lower end as a pivot, plural mechanical buttons, or the like.

The autonomous driving vehicle 10 is not provided with a foot pedal, which is operated by a foot to input a vehicle speed control instruction, such as an accelerator pedal or a brake pedal which is provided in conventional vehicles and the like.

The communication unit 22 comprises a network adapter for example and exhibits a function of communicating with the management center 32 over a communication line 30 such as the Internet. The communication unit 22 transmits information on the autonomous driving vehicle 10 to the management center 32. For example, the communication unit 22 transmits to the management center 32 a present position and a speed of the autonomous driving vehicle 10, information indicating an open or closed state of the door 18 and the ramp, and vehicle identification information for identifying the autonomous driving vehicle 10 intermittently (e.g., at the interval of one second). Also, when the drive mode of the autonomous driving vehicle 10 is switched, the communication unit 22 transmits information indicating the switched drive mode to the management center 32. Also, the communication unit 22 receives from the management center 32 a drive control instruction, and a traveling permission signal indicating that the management center 32 has permitted traveling in autonomous driving. Information to be exchanged between the communication unit 22 and the management center 32 will be described later in detail.

The drive mode selection unit 24 selects a drive mode of the autonomous driving vehicle 10 from among the autonomous drive mode, the semi-autonomous drive mode, and manual drive mode based on the drive mode switching instruction inputted by the operator through the touch panel 20.

In the present embodiment, permission from the management center 32 is required to switch the drive mode to the autonomous drive mode. Specifically, when the instruction for switching to the autonomous drive mode is inputted, the drive mode selection unit 24 transmits from the communication unit 22 to the management center 32 a request for switching into the autonomous drive mode. Upon receiving the autonomous drive mode-switching request from the autonomous driving vehicle 10, the management center 32 determines, based on information about the autonomous driving vehicle 10, whether or not the autonomous driving vehicle 10 can be switched to the autonomous drive mode. In the present embodiment, when the autonomous driving vehicle 10 is located on the specified route in a stopped state, and the door 18 and the ramp are in the closed state, the management center 32 determines that the autonomous driving vehicle 10 can be switched to the autonomous drive mode. Of course, the conditions for switching to the autonomous drive mode are not limited to the above, and there may be other conditions. When it is determined that the autonomous driving vehicle 10 can be switched to the autonomous drive mode, the management center 32 transmits a switching permission notification to the autonomous driving vehicle 10. Upon receiving the switching permission notification from the management center 32, the drive mode selection unit 24 switches the drive mode of the autonomous driving vehicle 10 to the autonomous drive mode.

When an instruction for switching to the semi-autonomous drive mode or an instruction for switching to the manual drive mode is inputted, the drive mode selection unit 24 switches the drive mode of the autonomous driving vehicle 10 according to the inputted switching instruction without requiring the switching permission from the management center 32. However, the communication unit 22 notifies the switched drive mode to the management center 32 so that the management center 32 can grasp the current drive mode of the autonomous driving vehicle 10.

The drive control unit 26 performs drive control of the autonomous driving vehicle 10 according to the drive control instruction inputted from the touch panel 20, the drive control instruction received from the management center 32, the detected results of the various sensors provided on the autonomous driving vehicle 10, or the above described drive control instruction inputted from the mechanical operation unit.

Specifically, in a case where the autonomous driving vehicle 10 is in the autonomous drive mode, the management center 32 determines, before traveling in the autonomous driving, whether or not the autonomous driving vehicle 10 is permitted to travel in the autonomous driving on the basis of information about the autonomous driving vehicle 10. In the present embodiment, when the door 18 and the ramp are closed and a distance between the autonomous driving vehicle 10 and another preceding autonomous driving vehicle 10 is a prescribed distance or more on the specified route, the management center 32 determines that the autonomous driving vehicle 10 can travel in the autonomous driving. Of course, the travelable conditions in autonomous driving are not limited to the above description and may be other conditions. When the management center 32 determines that the autonomous driving vehicle 10 may travel in autonomous driving, an autonomous-driving travel permission notification is transmitted to the autonomous driving vehicle 10.

Upon receiving the travel permission notification from the management center 32, the drive control unit 26 determines that traveling in autonomous driving has been permitted from the management center 32. Even when the travel permission notification has been received, if the travelable conditions in autonomous driving are not met (for example, if the door 18 or the ramp is opened) or if the drive mode is switched to another drive mode, the management center 32 prohibits traveling in autonomous driving and transmits a notification of non-permission to travel in autonomous driving to the autonomous driving vehicle 10. In this case, if the autonomous driving vehicle 10 meets the conditions travelable in autonomous driving again, a travel permission notification is retransmitted from the management center 32, and the autonomous driving vehicle 10 is permitted to travel in autonomous driving from the management center 32. Thus, the case where traveling in autonomous driving is permitted from the management center 32 means a state of the autonomous driving vehicle 10 that the travelable conditions in the autonomous driving are met while keeping the drive mode after receiving the travel permission notification from the management center 32. Also, it is assumed that a state other than the above is a case where traveling in autonomous driving is not permitted from the management center 32.

When the operator inputs the travel start instruction through the touch panel 20 on condition that traveling in autonomous driving is permitted from the management center 32, the drive control unit 26 performs electric parking brake release control, shift change control, power motor control, etc. to start traveling of the autonomous driving vehicle 10 in autonomous driving. Then, the drive control unit 26 performs autonomous driving according to the drive control instruction received from the management center 32.

In the present embodiment, when the drive mode of the autonomous driving vehicle 10 is the semi-autonomous drive mode, it is necessary to receive the autonomous-driving travel permission from the management center 3. Therefore, in the semi-autonomous drive mode, the travel permission notification is not transmitted from the management center 32. The drive control unit 26 starts traveling according to the travel start instruction inputted by the operator through the touch panel 20 and then performs autonomous driving according to the detection signals from the various sensors provided on the autonomous driving vehicle 10.

In a case where the drive mode of the autonomous driving vehicle 10 is the semi-autonomous drive mode, traveling in autonomous driving may be started when the operator inputs the travel start instruction through the touch panel 20 on condition that traveling in autonomous driving is permitted from the management center 32, similar to the case of the autonomous drive mode. In this case, the travelable conditions in autonomous driving may be different between the autonomous drive mode and the semi-autonomous drive mode. For example, in the case of the semi-autonomous drive mode, the travelable conditions in autonomous driving are limited to the condition that the door 18 and the ramp must be in a closed state, and it is not required to include a condition that a distance between the autonomous driving vehicle 10 and another preceding autonomous driving vehicle 10 on the specified route is less than a prescribed distance.

Even when the autonomous driving vehicle 10 is in the manual drive mode, it is not required to obtain a travel permission from the management center 32. Therefore, the travel permission notification is not transmitted from the management center 32, but the drive control unit 26 controls to start traveling according to the travel start instruction inputted by the operator through the touch panel 20 and to subsequently perform traveling according to a drive instruction signal inputted by the operator.

The display control unit 28 controls to show various screens on the touch panel 20. The display control unit 28 causes the touch panel 20 display various buttons for inputting various control instructions to the autonomous driving vehicle 10. Also the display control unit 28 causes the touch panel 20 to display different screens between cases when the autonomous driving vehicle 10 is permitted and not permitted to travel in autonomous driving from the management center 32. Thus, the touch panel 20 functions as a variable sign for displaying to the operator whether or not the autonomous driving vehicle 10 is permitted to travel in autonomous driving from the management center 32.

Display contents of the touch panel 20 are described in detail with reference to FIG. 3 to FIG. 6 .

FIG. 3 is a screen example of the touch panel 20 being displayed when the autonomous driving vehicle 10 is in the manual drive mode. In the manual drive mode, the display control unit 28 causes the touch panel 20 to display a screen including a manual driving start button 40 for inputting an instruction to start traveling in manual driving, and drive mode switching buttons 42 for switching the drive modes. In the present embodiment, the drive mode switching buttons 42 are comprised of a button (AUTO button) for switching to the autonomous drive mode, a button (S-AUTO button) for switching to the semi-autonomous drive mode, and a button (MANUAL button) for switching to the manual drive mode. The drive mode switching buttons 42 may explicitly indicate that the current drive mode is the manual drive mode. The display control unit 28 displays a background 44 of the touch panel 20 in a first color (white in the present embodiment).

As described above, since the autonomous driving vehicle 10 in the manual drive mode does not receive the traveling permission signal from the management center 32, it can be said that FIG. 3 is a screen example of the touch panel 20 when the autonomous driving vehicle 10 is not permitted to travel in autonomous driving from the management center 32. Here, when the background 44 is displayed in the first color, it indicates that traveling in autonomous driving is not permitted from the management center 32. Also, the manual driving start button 40 is just a button to start traveling in manual driving and not a button to start autonomous driving. Therefore, if traveling in autonomous driving is not permitted from the management center 32, it can be said that the button to start autonomous driving is not displayed on the touch panel 20. It may be explicitly shown to the operator that the manual driving start button 40 is a button not to start autonomous driving but to start manual driving.

In addition to the above, the display control unit 28 displays on the touch panel 20 various buttons for inputting various instructions to the autonomous driving vehicle 10. For example, the touch panel 20 displays a button for shift change or buttons for operating equipment (such as an air conditioner and a wiper) provided on the autonomous driving vehicle 10. Also, the display control unit 28 displays on the touch panel 20 information about the autonomous driving vehicle 10 (e.g., a battery remaining amount, open/close states of the door 18 and the ramp, etc. of the autonomous driving vehicle 10).

FIG. 4 is a screen example of the touch panel 20 being displayed in a case where a travel permission notification is received from the management center 32 after the drive mode of the autonomous driving vehicle 10 is switched to the autonomous drive mode, namely driving in autonomous driving is permitted from the management center 32. When the drive mode of the autonomous driving vehicle 10 is switched to the autonomous drive mode and the travel permission notification is received from the management center 32, the display control unit 28 displays, instead of the first color, the background 44 of the touch panel 20 in a second color (blue in the present embodiment) different from the first color. Also, the display control unit 28 displays on the touch panel 20, instead of the manual driving start button 40, the autonomous driving start button 46 for inputting the autonomous-driving travel start instruction. Here, it may also be explicitly shown to the operator that the autonomous driving start button 46 is a button not to start manual driving but to start autonomous driving.

As shown in FIG. 3 , when traveling in autonomous driving is not permitted from the management center 32, the background 44 of the touch panel 20 is displayed in the first color, and as shown in FIG. 4 , when traveling in autonomous driving is permitted from the management center 32, the background 44 of the touch panel 20 is displayed in the second color. Thus, the operator can recognize whether or not the autonomous driving vehicle 10 is permitted to travel in autonomous driving from the management center 32, namely whether or not traveling in autonomous driving is permitted, by visually recognizing the background 44 of the touch panel 20.

Also, when traveling in autonomous driving is not permitted from the management center 32, the touch panel 20 does not display the autonomous driving start button 46 for inputting the autonomous-driving travel start instruction, and when traveling in autonomous driving is permitted from the management center 32, the touch panel 20 displays the autonomous driving start button 46. Thus, when the autonomous driving start button 46 is displayed on the touch panel 20, the operator can recognize that the autonomous driving vehicle 10 is permitted to travel in autonomous driving from the management center 32.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the touch panel 20 functions as a variable sign that displays a first form (the background 44 has the first color and the autonomous driving start button 46 is not displayed in the present embodiment) when traveling in autonomous driving is not permitted from the management center 32 and displays a second form (the background 44 has the second color and the autonomous driving start button 46 is displayed in the present embodiment) when traveling in autonomous driving is permitted from the management center 32.

It is determined in the present embodiment that the whole background 44 has the first color when traveling in autonomous driving is not permitted from the management center 32, and the whole background 44 has the second color when traveling in autonomous driving is permitted from the management center 32. However, the color changing region may not be the whole background 44, and the color of a particular region of the background 44 may be changed partly between the case where traveling in autonomous driving is not permitted from the management center 32 and the case where traveling in autonomous driving is permitted from the management center 32.

It may be determined that all or part of the buttons displayed on the touch panel 20 has the first color when traveling in autonomous driving is not permitted from the management center 32, and the buttons having the first color are changed to the second color when traveling in autonomous driving is permitted from the management center 32.

If traveling in autonomous driving is not permitted from the management center 32 (that is, the travel permission notification is not received) immediately after the manual drive mode is switched to the autonomous drive mode, the display control unit 28 displays the screen shown in FIG. 3 on the touch panel 20 until the travel permission notification is received from the management center 32. Also, when the travel permission notification is received, the touch panel 20 is made to display the screen shown in FIG. 4 .

Otherwise, the display control unit 28 may display the screen shown in FIG. 5 on the touch panel 20 until the travel permission notification is received from the management center 32 after the manual drive mode is switched to the autonomous drive mode. The screen shown in FIG. 5 explicitly indicates, using the drive mode switching buttons 42, that the current drive mode is the manual drive mode. Since traveling in autonomous driving is not permitted from the management center 32, the screen shown in FIG. 5 displays that the background 44 remains in the first color and the autonomous driving start button 46 is not displayed. When the touch panel 20 displays the screen shown in FIG. 5 , the operator can grasp that the drive mode of the autonomous driving vehicle 10 is reliably switched to the autonomous drive mode, but traveling in autonomous driving is not permitted from the management center 3.

When the autonomous driving vehicle 10 is in the semi-autonomous drive mode in the present embodiment, it is not necessary to obtain an autonomous-driving travel permission from the management center 32. Therefore, in the semi-autonomous drive mode, the display control unit 28 displays the background 44 of the touch panel 20 in the first color. Then, when the drive mode is switched to the autonomous drive mode and the travel permission notification is received from the management center 32, the background 44 of the touch panel 20 is displayed in the second color as shown in FIG. 4 .

When it is assumed that the autonomous-driving travel permission must be obtained from the management center 32 even during the semi-autonomous drive mode, the background 44 of the touch panel 20 is displayed in the second color and a button for inputting a (semi) autonomous-driving travel start instruction is displayed on the touch panel 20 when the travel permission notification is received from the management center 32 after switching to the semi-autonomous drive mode.

In a case where the drive mode is in the autonomous drive mode and traveling in autonomous driving is permitted from the management center 32, when the operator operates the autonomous driving start button 46, the drive control unit 26 initiates traveling in autonomous driving according to the instruction from the management center 32.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a screen example of the touch panel 20 during traveling in autonomous driving. When the autonomous driving vehicle 10 starts traveling in autonomous driving, the display control unit 28 displays the background 44 of the touch panel 20, instead of the second color, a third color (green in the present embodiment) different from the first and second colors. Also, the display control unit 28 displays on the touch panel 20, instead of the autonomous driving start button 46, the deceleration button 48 for inputting the deceleration instruction to the autonomous driving vehicle 10. In addition, the drive mode cannot be switched when traveling in the present embodiment, so that the display control unit 28 displays only the AUTO button for indicating the current drive mode among the drive mode switching buttons 42 but does not display the S-AUTO button and the MANUAL button.

Thus, when traveling in autonomous driving, the operator can recognize that the autonomous driving vehicle 10 is traveling in autonomous driving as the touch panel 20 shows a third form (the background 44 has the third color, the deceleration button 48 is displayed, and only the AUTO button is displayed as the drive mode switching button 42 in the present embodiment).

When the autonomous driving vehicle 10 stops after travelling in the autonomous drive mode, the display control unit 28 redisplays the screen shown in FIG. 4 on the touch panel 20. Namely, the background 44 is changed from the third color to the second color, the autonomous driving start button 46 is displayed instead of the deceleration button 48, and the S-AUTO button and the MANUAL button are displayed as the drive mode switching buttons 42. Thus, the operator can recognize that the autonomous driving vehicle 10 is in a stopped state in the autonomous drive mode.

When the autonomous driving vehicle 10 stops after traveling in the autonomous drive mode, the third color can be maintained without changing the color of the background 44. Thus, when the screen of FIG. 4 is displayed on the touch panel 20 and the background 44 has the second color, the operator can recognize that traveling in autonomous driving has not been performed after switching to the autonomous drive mode. Also when the screen of FIG. 4 is displayed on the touch panel 20 and the background 44 has the third color, the operator can recognize that the autonomous driving vehicle 10 is in a stopped state after traveling at least one time in the autonomous drive mode.

In the above-described present embodiment, the touch panel 20 covers the input portion for inputting the autonomous-driving travel start instruction to the autonomous driving vehicle 10 and the variable sign for identifying whether or not traveling in autonomous driving is permitted from the management center 32, but the input portion and the variable sign are not limited to the touch panel 20.

For example, the above-described mechanical operation unit (such as the stick-like operation part or the mechanical buttons) may be used as the input portion. In such a case, the variable sign may be an LED display portion or the like. For example, the display control unit 28 may display the LED in the first color as the first form when traveling in autonomous driving is not permitted from the management center 32, the LED in the second color as the second form when traveling in autonomous driving is permitted from the management center 32, and the LED in the third color as the third form when traveling in autonomous driving. In this case, the display portion may be provided at the mechanical operation unit or provided near the mechanical operation unit.

Also, the variable sign is not limited to the display portion which is controlled by the display control unit 28. For example, the variable sign may be switched among the first form, the second form and the third form by a mechanical mechanism. For example, the variable sign may be a small U-shape variable sign board which has different patterns or characters marked on three side surfaces of a triangular pole which is rotatable by control from a machine control unit provided on the autonomous driving vehicle 10. This U-shape variable sign board has a state, as the first form, where a first side surface of the triangular pole is visible from the operator when travelling in autonomous driving is not permitted from the management center 32, has a state, as the second form, where a second side surface of the triangular pole becomes visible from the operator as the triangular pole rotates when traveling in autonomous driving is permitted from the management center 32, and has a state, as the third form, where a third side surface of the triangular pole is visible from the operator when traveling in autonomous driving is started and the triangular pole rotates furthermore.

As described above, the variable sign can be modified variously to show different forms (such as a display content, an attitude, a position and a shape) between the cases where traveling in autonomous driving is permitted or not from the management center 32.

A flow of processing from the switching into the autonomous drive mode to the start of traveling in autonomous driving of the autonomous driving vehicle 10 and the management center 32 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 7 . At the start of the flowchart of FIG. 7 , it is determined that the autonomous driving vehicle 10 has the manual drive mode, and the screen shown in FIG. 3 is displayed on the touch panel 20.

In step S10, the operator operates the drive mode switching button 42 displayed on the touch panel 20 to input an instruction to switch to the autonomous drive mode.

In step S12, vehicle identification information for identifying the autonomous driving vehicle 10 and also a request for switching to the autonomous drive mode are transmitted to the management center 32 by the drive mode selection unit 24.

In step S14, the management center 32 determines whether or not the autonomous driving vehicle 10 can be switched to the autonomous drive mode on the basis of information about the autonomous driving vehicle 10 received in advance from the autonomous driving vehicle 10. In the present embodiment, when the autonomous driving vehicle 10 is located on a specified route, in a stopped state, and the door 18 and the ramp are in a closed state as described above, it is determined that the drive mode can be switched to the autonomous drive mode.

When the drive mode can be switched to the autonomous drive mode, the management center 32 transmits to the autonomous driving vehicle 10 a notification of permission to switch to the autonomous drive mode in step S16. If the drive mode cannot be switched to the autonomous drive mode, the management center 32 terminates the processing after transmitting to the autonomous driving vehicle 10 a notification of non-permission to switch to the autonomous drive mode in step S18.

In step S20, the drive mode selection unit 24 determines whether or not the management center 32 has permitted switching to the autonomous drive mode, namely whether the switching permission notification is received or the switching non-permission notification is received from the management center 32.

When the notification of non-permission to switch to the autonomous drive mode is received from the management center 32, the display control unit 28 terminates the processing after displaying on the touch panel 20 an error message indicating that switching to the autonomous drive mode was not permitted by the management center 32 in step S22.

When the notification of permission to switch to the autonomous drive mode is received from the management center 32, the drive mode selection unit 24 switches the drive mode to the autonomous drive mode in step S24.

After the notification of permission to switch to the autonomous drive mode is transmitted to the autonomous driving vehicle 10 in step S16, the management center 32 determines in step S26 whether or not the autonomous driving vehicle 10 is permitted to travel in the autonomous driving on the basis of information about the autonomous driving vehicle 10. In the present embodiment, it is determined that the autonomous driving vehicle 10 may travel in autonomous driving when the door 18 and the ramp are in the closed state as described above and when the travelable conditions in autonomous driving, namely that a distance between the autonomous driving vehicle 10 and a another preceding autonomous driving vehicle 10 on the specified route is a prescribed distance or larger, are satisfied. If the travelable conditions in autonomous driving have not been satisfied, the management center 32 waits until the conditions are satisfied.

When the travelable conditions in autonomous driving are satisfied, the management center 32 transmits the autonomous-driving travel permission notification to the autonomous driving vehicle 10 in step S28.

In step S30, the display control unit 28 determines whether traveling in autonomous driving is permitted from the management center 32, namely, whether or not the autonomous-driving travel permission notification is received from the management center 32. The display control unit 28 displays the screen shown in FIG. 3 on the touch panel 20 until the autonomous-driving travel permission notification is received from the management center 32. That is, the background 44 of the touch panel 20 has the first color, and the autonomous driving start button 46 is not displayed. Otherwise, the display control unit 28 may display the screen shown in FIG. 5 on the touch panel 20 until the autonomous-driving travel permission notification is received from the management center 32 after the drive mode selection unit 24 switches the drive mode to the autonomous drive mode in step S24. The background 44 of the touch panel 20 is also the first color in this case, and the autonomous driving start button 46 is not displayed.

When the autonomous-driving travel permission notification is received from the management center 32, the display control unit 28 displays the screen shown in FIG. 4 on the touch panel 20 in step S32. That it, the background 44 of the touch panel 20 is changed to the second color to display the autonomous driving start button 46.

In step S34, the drive control unit 26 determines whether or not the autonomous driving start button 46 is operated by the operator. The drive control unit 26 keeps the autonomous driving vehicle 10 stopped until the autonomous driving start button 46 is operated, and when the autonomous driving start button 46 is operated, starts travel of the autonomous driving vehicle 10 in autonomous driving in step S36.

When the autonomous driving vehicle 10 starts traveling in autonomous driving, the display control unit 28 displays the screen shown in FIG. 6 on the touch panel 20 in step S38. That is, the background 44 of the touch panel 20 is changed to the third color, and the deceleration button 48 is displayed instead of the autonomous driving start button 46.

The embodiments of the operation device for the autonomous driving vehicle according to the present disclosure have been described, but the operation device for the autonomous driving vehicle according to the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be variously modified without departing from the essence of the present disclosure. 

1. An operation device for an autonomous driving vehicle that is communicable with a management center provided outside the vehicle and starts traveling in autonomous driving according to a travel start instruction inputted by an on-board operator on condition that traveling in autonomous driving is permitted from the management center, the operation device comprising: an input portion for inputting an autonomous-driving travel start instruction; and a variable sign which indicates a first form when the management center does not permit the autonomous driving vehicle to travel in autonomous driving and indicates a second form different from the first form when the management center permits the autonomous driving vehicle to travel in autonomous driving.
 2. The operation device for an autonomous driving vehicle according to claim 1, wherein: the variable sign is a display portion; and a display control unit is further provided to display, as the first form, a first color on the display portion and to display, as the second form, a second color, which is different from the first color, on the display portion instead of the first color.
 3. The operation device for an autonomous driving vehicle according to claim 2, wherein: the display portion is a touch panel for displaying a background and buttons; and the display control unit displays, as the first form, the background or the buttons in the first color and displays, as the second form, the background or the buttons in the second color.
 4. The operation device for an autonomous driving vehicle according to claim 1, wherein: the input portion and the variable sign are a touch panel capable of displaying an autonomous driving start button for inputting the autonomous-driving travel start instruction to the autonomous driving vehicle; and a display control unit is further provided to display, as the first form, a screen not displaying the autonomous driving start button on the touch panel and, as the second form, a screen displaying the autonomous driving start button on the touch panel.
 5. The operation device for an autonomous driving vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the variable sign indicates a third form different from the first form and the second form when the autonomous driving vehicle is traveling in autonomous driving.
 6. The operation device for an autonomous driving vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the variable sign is switched from the first form to the second form by a mechanical mechanism. 